Chapter 1: W-What?

Ben

I can’t think of a time when my hands didn’t sweat when I have to hang up with Mr. Porter. It doesn’t matter what we do, it doesn’t matter if I know we’re only gonna walk on the meadow. I’m always scared to my bones.

I blame Laney, ‘cause she has filled my head with rumors that his father wants me to work on the family business… home remodeling. I’m pretty sure it’s just a cover for money laundering.

Mr. Porter is tall, sturdy and stocky, with broad shoulders. The kind of person you’ll never find in a bar. He likes sports linked to rich people, like golf, or tennis. He eats lobster and crabs regularly. He even has a butler called Gareth, who I’ve never heard talking while I’m around. Maybe he is mute and I don’t even know.

“Benny, son,” says Mr. Porter. “I’m so glad you had asked Laney to marry you.”

Mr. Porter hits the tiny ball with all of his strength. It disappeared in the air. I lost track of it.

My chest shakes.

There is too much sun today, maybe it’s affecting me.

“What?” is everything I could say.

Edward, Mr. Porter, laughs with that characteristic sound of people that lives without preoccupations in life. Short, aspirated. It brings you to a virgin beach just by hearing it.

“Laney told me everything,” he says while getting another tiny golf ball ready, “that it was so romantic. I don’t wanna put you in a hurry, but Marge is thinking of a July wedding. What do you think?”

“I…”

“We’ll pay everything, of course. Laney says you are all frustrated about your college debt, so don’t worry.”

“Mr. Porter…”

“Come on, Benny,” he says, giving me a light tap on the shoulder. “We have known each other since a long time, you can call me Eddie. Furthermore, we are going to be a family now, call me ‘father’”.

No, I can not call him Eddie, worst, I can not call him ‘father’ either. I never asked Laney anything about marrying me.

My head was so empty it was all dark. Meanwhile, Mr. Porter kept hitting those balls, making a rhythmic sound.

How can I tell him is a misunderstanding?

I didn’t even know how it started, but the guilty one was clear as water… Laney.

Laney is used to having lots of free time, at any time of the day. She’s only busy when she’s playing tennis, which happens twice a week. Or when she goes to the spa with Marge, to have a ‘girl’s day’. That’s how she calls it.

I don’t know what she’s doing on a regular day. I don’t have a clue in what she is spending her time besides daydreaming.

It wasn’t a surprise when she told me she could go to PimPom right away. She loves PimPom’s ice creams, she says it all the time.

The cafeteria filled with her perfume when she crossed the doorway. She said ‘Hi’ by waving her hand in the air. Then, she got closer, walking slowly.

I have discovered that she doesn’t walk like that due to being tiny, but because her grandmother had told her so. Grandma Porter used to tell her that good girls walked gracefully, ladylike.

Sometimes, I wonder how someone like me ended up with someone like her. She’s so out of my league she is not even in my range. And, it’s not like I think little about myself, but I see the life she has, the world she lives in… and it’s different from mine, so far from mine.

She studied Business Administration to work on the family business. I studied Accounting thinking I could make easy money and pay off my college debt.

So, I wanted to graduate and work, she graduated and won a place at her father’s company ‘cause she is his daughter.

It’s crystal clear we don’t move in the same circles.

I can remember when we met each other as if it happened yesterday. I was working as a fast food delivery guy and brought an order to one of her friend’s apartment. Laney was there celebrating her friend’s birthday. She offered a piece of cake when I walked in with the food to leave it in the kitchen.

“Did you order?” she asked while sitting down.

“I did. A gigantic banana ice cream with a single cherry.”

She took my hand and smiled.

She wears her blonde hair in a cheerleader ponytail. She says it reminds her of her times as a cheerleader.

I like her hair. It’s blonder than mine, more alive than mine.

“Listen…” I said, and God only knows I’m terrible at starting a proper conversation. “Your father says you told him that… I asked you to marry me?”

“Yes,” she smiles.

The waiter walks in before I could even think of a reply. He let the order on the table, carefully, placing Laney’s ice cream in front of her. He then goes after praising her blue dress, like he always does cause he’s my friend and is trying to play nice.

“Where did…” I sighed. “Where did you get that idea from?”

She smiled after tasting her ice cream.

“You know…” she said, taking another bite. “When we were at the national park and you told me you wanted to live that moment forever. It was clear you were asking my hand. I did not want you to feel ashamed, so I did not scream right there. But, you know how I am, I told my mother right after passing the door of my house.” she laughed at the end.

I wasn’t sure if I was feeling sick or just… overwhelmed.

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